jackson



RIIACKSON.

CLOTH DYEING, BLEACHING, AND LIKE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. I918.

Patented (M. 21, I919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

illllllnlllillll I APPLICATION FILED MAR-25,1918.

Patented 001%. 21, L918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

:mmm m THL COLUMIHA PLANOGRMH WASHINGTON. n. c.

R, JACKSON.

CLOTH DYEING, BLEACHING, AND LIKE MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25| 1918.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. JACKSON.

CiOTH DYEING, BLEACHING, AND LIKE MACHINE. APLICATlON HLED MAR! 25. 191B- Lw mw Patented 001;. 21,1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

REUBEN JACKSON, 01? WHITEHOUGH, CHINLEY, ENGLAND.

CLOTH DYEING, BLEACHING, AND LIKE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

Application filed March 25, 1918. Serial No. 224,542.

[0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN JACKSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and resident of Whitehough, Chinley, Derbyshire, England, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Cloth Dyeing, Bleaching, and like Machines, of which the following 'is a specification.

Cloth dyeing and bleaching machines, to which these improvements refer, usually comprise an open vessel or beck, a series of small diameter rollers Within the beck, and two large diameter rollers supported in bearings on the top edges of the beck. The batch of cloth to be dyed or bleached is wrapped around one of the larger rollers, and in threading it through the machine it is passed down and below the several smaller rollers within'the beck (the lower ones of which lie below the dye or bleach liquor), and then upward and on to the other larger roller, this latter being (for the time) the driving or take-up roller and the roller with the supply of cloth on being the delivery roller, suitable braking means being provided to put tension on the cloth. After the whole of the cloth has passed through the liquor in one direction it is then passed back in the reverse direction, this reversal of the cloth occurring several times until the clothhas taken up the required amount of dye or bleach liquor. A squeezing roller acting on the cloth-receiving roller is sometimes used to help in keeping the cloth free from creases.

For dyeing and bleaching certain kinds of cloth, such as tightly woven gabardines, hard and tightly woven poplins and other ribbed cloth, imperial sateens woven with tight and curly selvages, the aforesaid construction of machine is not satisfactory, the chief objection being that the si'uall rollers are liable to revolveerratically and to cause the cloth to become creased. Further, in leaving the liquor the cloth is exposed to the splashing action of the liquor, which accentuates the creasing, and finally, the squeezing roller, instead of removing the creases, presses them in. It also tends to strain and break the threads, and cause dark lines and streaks in the cloth. In addition, the selvages of the cloth in dyeing become excessively wet and are dyed darker than the other parts of the cloth. To prevent creasing of the cloth, extra brake pressure is vide a machine, suitable for dyeing or bleaching the before-named materials, 111 which the beforementioned drawbacks are eliminated, or reduced to a minimum, and in which there is little liability of the cloth to sufljer damage, while the machine itself is of a character which will be less liable to derangement than the said known machine, and is readily adaptable for eiiiciently treati a range of fabrics from the heaviest to the lightest.

According to the invention, in place of the series of small rollers within the beck, two, by preference, large and equal-sized rollers are employed, each roller dipping into the dye or bleach liquor for a portion of its periphery. Means are provided whereby such rollers may be rotated in unison first in one direction and then in the reverse direction at a uniform speed. Also within the beck, and resting one upon each of the said lower rollers, is a squeezing roller, the spindle of which is preferably mounted in bearings adapted to slide in vertical guide-ways in the ends of the beck. Eachsqueezing roller extends slightly above the top edges of the ends of the beck, while upon such top edges of the beck, and to right and left of each of the said guideways, are inclined arms for receiving and guiding the aXis or shaft of the roll of cloth. to be dyed or bleached, or the reeling shells or rollers on to and off which the cloth winds and unwinds during the dyeing or bleaching operation. Provision may be made to brake the squeezing rollers as desired or to gear the various rolls together in pairs or otherwise to obtain the required degree of tautness of the material passing through the beck or to obviate all strains upon the same while still preventing creasing or unequal. treatment.

In the lower part of the beck is the usual steam pipe for heating the liquor, and also a normally closed outlet for running oil the liquor when required.

In dyeing or bleaching the cloth, it is first led around the squeezing roller and passed between such roller and the large lower roller on one side of the beck, then taken in a straight path through the liquor to the other large lower roller, then passed cloth passing from one bottom roller to the other passes through the liquor in an evenly dlstended condition without any liability to Jcrease. F urther, upon passing between the squeezing roller and the driven lower roller, the .cloth remains distended until fully wound on to the receiving shell. 20

At the same time by reason of the nip between the squeezing roller and lower roller and the nip between the squeezing roller and the roll of cloth any eXcess of liquor is squeezed out ofthe cloth throughout its full width, and with the speed of the cloth constant, uniformity of treatment is assured.

The improved machine is particularly adapted for dyeing materials with sulfid dyestuffs.

Upon the accompanying drawing,

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate right and left hand outside end views respectively,

Fig. 3 a transverse sectional elevation of Fig; land Fig. 4 a longitudinal sectional elevation of Fig. 2 on line 44 of a cloth dyeing or bleaching machine constructed according to this invention. v

Fig. 5 is anend view illustrating a form of the invention in which provision is made for braking the roll shells, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are end views of a modified form of the invention in which certain of the rolls are geared together. 7

In the construction shown, a is a cast iron vessel or beck made rather wider than the usual make of beck and its floor part preferablyslopes toward the center. Z), are the two rollers (preferably about one foot diameter) arranged low down in the beck and near to its inclined sides, see Fig. 3. These rollers are preferably made of iron and are mounted upon metal spindles c, 0 which extend through suitable stulling boxes in the ends of the heck and arerotatably sup ported in bearing brackets (Z, (Z on the 6X terior of the heck, see Fig. 4. To admit the roller spindles, the beck is made in two main parts as shown. Upon each roller spindle at one end, is keyed a bevel or miter wheel 6, adapted to mesh with a like bevel or miter wheel f, or f loosely mounted upon a driving shaft 9 arranged alongside the heck. Upon this same shaft and between the bevel wheels f, f is ordinary double cone placed say in the clutch it slidably keyed to theshaft, and

'in conjunction with a brake strap or band may as hereinafter explained, be used to put a slight drag on one or other of the rollers L, 6 In Fig. 1 one of the brake pulleys 2' is shown removed in order to illustrate more clearly the gland packing of the roller spindle. Above and resting upon the rollers b, Z2 are the squeezing rollers j, j, the spindles of which project through bearings k, 7c adapted to slide in vertical guide ways a formed in the ends of the heck and to allow the squeezing rollers to bear with their full weight on the rollers 6, IF. Upon the top edges of the ends of the heck are the usual inclined arms Z, Z and also the smaller arms m, m, one .arm Z and an arm m lying to right and left respectively of each guideway a.

The beck will usually be filled with li uor up to a level sufficient to allow about a third of the surface of the rollers l), b to be immersed therein. Asteam pipe p is provided for heating the liquor.

lVhen a roll of cloth is first brought to the machine to be dyed or bleached it is position shown in Fig. 1, its shaft nresting against the inclined arms Z and the cloth rest ng upon the squeezing roller j.

around the roller j and between such roller and the roller Z), thence through the liquor to the roller 6 around which it passes, then between such roller and the squeezing roller j and finally on to the receiving shell 0, which,'as shown rests upon the squeezing roller 7' With the cloth thus threaded The end of the cloth is then passed through the machine, the clutch h is then 7 moved into engagement with the bevel wheel f whereupon with the shaft g in motion'and rotating in the direction of the arrow glthe roller 6 is rotated in the direction of the arrow Z2 see Figs. 1 and 2. Owing to the bevel wheel 7 remaining unclutched the roller 6 is rotated upon the pull of the cloth only from the roller 6 while the squeezing roller j and roll a rotate withit by reason of the friction between them and the cloth. The squeezing roller 7'? is rotated frietionally by the roller 6* and in turn, frictionally rotates the cloth receiving sliello'. lV hen in motion all the rotating members rotate at the same surface speed, and therefore the speed of the cloth is not at anytime accelerated, as'is the case with the ordinary IIlEL- gagement with the wheel and into. en-

gagement with the bevel wheel the roller rollers 12, b

gling operations,

ing roller.

I) then becoming the driver and the roller 6 the follower, and the cloth passing from the roll on the right hand side to the roll on the left hand side of the machine, see Fig. 3.

By applying a strap or steel band to the pulley i of either of the spindles of the and by tensioning such band by a thumb screw (not'shown) a slight drag .may be put upon the roller 1) or W, which for the time being is being rotated by the pull. of the cloth, thereby keeping the cloth taut while passing through the liquor. The drag produced by the weight and friction of the roll of cloth resting upon the squeeezing roller may in itself be sufficient.

With the machine constructed, and the cloth passed through it, as described, the

cloth is held distended and in contact with surfaces of the rollers at all points prior to entering and after leaving the liquor. Further, by passing between the rollers, and resting upon the squeezing rollers, the cloth is subject to'four separate nippingor manwhich further help to P1387, vent creases as Well as to distribute the liquor. Moreover, by utilizing'one of the lower rollers as the driver, the speed of the cloth is uniform for its entire length, both in passing through the liquor, and in winding and unwinding.

With only that portion of the cloth between'the rollers 79 and 6 free and passing below the surface of the liquor no creasing can take place, as it is well known that cloth does not crease when kept taut and while running under the surface of a liquid, the resistance and pressure of the liquid tending to open it out, and even to remove creases already present. Greases are ren dered impossible by reason of the nips between the squeezing rollers j, 9' and rollers b, b and further still by the fact that the reel of cloth itself acts as an additional mangle as it rests and revolves on the squeez Good penetration of the cloth and level dyeing are also assured by reason of the liquor being squeezed, through the cloth, likewise, the selvages' are squeezed equally with the rest of the piece, thus preventing listing.

There will usually be two iron reels or roll shells 0, 0 on to which the clothwill wind and unwind and one of such shells 0 will rest against the arms m while the .cloth is being unwound from the original roll shaft 12 on to the shell 0 and also while the cloth is being wound up for removal from the machine.

Referring to Fig. .5, the bottom rollers 7), b are assembled and actuated as before described, and the aXles of the top rolls y", 7' are slidably mountedin slots and are pressed into engagement with the bottom rollers by the weight of the: reels with the cloth wound thereon. The axles of said reels are provided with a brake drum 9 preferably secured thereto by oneway clutches somewhat after the manner of a free wheel as indicated in dotted lines.

ing wound, but only on that reel which is turning in the necessary direction to unwind the material. Consequently the required amount of tautness can be imparted to the material. Instead of using one way clutches the brake drums can be rigidly attached to the reels but in this case it is necessary for the operator to remove the brake strap from that-end upon-which the material is being wound.

According to another form of the invention the rollers are coupled together in pairs by frictional. means and so proportioned that in use the non-positively driven bottom or guide roller tends to accelerate the motion of the oppositely disposed squeezing roll to prevent any liability of slackness occurring around the positively driven roller.

Alternatively, the two bottom rollers are interconnected so that both rolls are driven at the same peripheral speed in order that certain fabrics such as crape muslin or the like,'which are injured if stretched when wet, may be fedthrough the machine and while being so fed are e'lliciently spread without undue tension.

Such arrangements are shown in Figs. 6 and 7 wherein an open vessel or beck a, is provided with two large cloth guiding rollers b, 19 together with means for positively rotating one or the other of said rollers and also with squeezing rollers j, resting on said guiding rollers as previously described. At the rear of each of said rollers a pulley ,t is provided which is connected to the roll spindle by a one way clutch as indicated in dotted lines, the pulleys 25 on the spindles of the top rolls 7', 7' being slightly less in diameter than those on the spindles of the bottom rolls 6, b for a purpose'hereinafter explained.

Said pulleys t which are alined in pairs are adapted to receive comparatively narrow belts a, the pulley on one guide roller being connected by a cross-belt with the squeezing roller diagonally opposite and the effective direction of the respective clutches is such that the non positively driven bottom roller rotates the. squeezing roller to. which it is connected while the other pulleys and belt rest idle, due to the free movement of the respeetive' one-way clutches.

Said squeezing roller j or 1' contacts with andis'normally rotated by the positively driven guiding roll Z) or 6 There is, however, 'a slight tendency to slip, particularly when a new batch is started, or at the commencement of the reversal movements, but as the squeezing roller is geared to the guide roller which is rotated by the drag of the fabric said tendency is overcome. Further, owing to the squeezing roll pulley i being slightly smaller than the guide roll pulley t to which it is geared there is a tendency for said squeezing roller to overrun the guide roll with which it is in contact consequently a drag is exerted on the fabric which maintains the same firmly in contact with the positively driven guide roll which constitutes the feed roll proper. It

- will be obvious that since the stretching takes place between the non-positively driven guide roll and the opposite squeez ing roll and that such rolls are geared together, that the fabric is kept taut within the bath oftreating liquor without extraneous braking means. 1

lVhen the other guide roll is positively driven, the same action takes place with the other pair of guide and squeezing rollers, while the pair above described are free to rotate relatively to each other.

Instead of or in addition to the beforementioned cross belts, the guide rollers may be connected by a belt or chain and equal sized belt or chain pulleys (see Fig. 7) connected to the roll spindles so that said rolls revolve at equal speed. Such an arrange ment is particularly advantageous when dealing with crape, muslins and cloths so woven that tension applied lengthwise of the piece, while the same is wet, spoils the woven effect, or with flimsy fabrics which will not stand tension, or brittle fabrics, which are liable to crack or tear along the selvages while being dyed because, the guide rollon the delivery side being rotated, the fabric is delivered free of tension at the same speed as it is taken up by the positively driven or receiving guide rolls without having to pull said delivery guide roll around. As the cloth is delivered at the same speed as received the fabric will be dyed more satisfactorily than on the known machine.

In Fig. 6 means are. provided to facilitate the addition of the dye stuff solutions or other chemicals to the open vessel or beck a without splashing the same onto the rollers or end fents, thereby obviating stains for several yards at the ends of the batches. As shown, a partition 1) is provided at one end of the beckextending from the top of the same to within a short distance of the bottom and lying clear of the cloth rollers, the bottom cornerso'f the partition preferably being removed for a distance reaching slightly above the normal level of the liq uid so that when itis desired to add fresh solution to a partly spent solution, the

fresh solution "can be poured into the spac'e tact with the squeezing rollers,

1 passing through the beck,

heaviest to the lightest.

l/Vhat I-claim is 1. In a. cloth dyeing, bleaching or like machine or beck, a plurality of guiding V rollers arranged in the lower part of the beck and rotatable in the dyeor other liquor, means for positively rotating one or the other of said rollers, squeezing rollers also within the said beck, one above and resting upon each guiding roller, and means for guiding the cloth rolls or roll shells in consubstantially as described.

2. In a cloth dyeing, bleaching or like -.machine 'orbeck, two guiding rollers arof the beck and r0 tatable'in the. dye Or other liquor, means for positively rotating one or the other of said rollers,squeezing rollers also within the said ranged in the lower part beck, one above and resting upon each guiding roller, and means for guiding the cloth rolls or roll shells while resting upon and revolving with the squeezing rollers, substantially as described, 3. In a cloth dyeing, bleaching or like machine, a beck, guiding rollers in said'beck and rotatable in the treating liquor, means for positively driving one or other of said rollers, squeezing-rollers also within the said beck, and one way interconnecting means for controlling the speed of the -non-'positively driven rollers in accordance with the.

positively driven roller, substantially as described. V Y

. 4. In a cloth dyeing, bleaching or like machine, a beck, guiding rollers in said beck and rotatable in the treating liquor,'m'eans,

for positively driving one orotherof said rollers, squeezing rollers rotatably mounted in sliding bearings within said beck so as to engage the guiding rollers and one way interconnecting means whereby the guiding and squeezing rollers can be rotated in series to effect the desired tautness of the cloth substantially as described. I

5. p In a cloth dyeing, bleaching or like machine or beck, a plurality of guiding rollers arranged in the lower partof the heck and rotatable the dye or'o'ther. liquor, means for positivelyrotating one or the other ofsaid rollers, squeezing rollers also within the said beck, one above and'resting upon] each guiding roller cloth; rolls or roll shells, and means for" guiding the cloth rolls or roll shells while resting uponfand revolving with the squeezing rollers, a. partition in the beck extending to near the bottom of the same for the admittance of fresh liquor, substantially as described.

6. In a cloth dyeing, bleaching or like machine or beck, a plurality of guiding rollers arranged in the lower part of the beck and rotatable in the dye or other liquor, means for traversing the cloth over the rollers While held taut at a uniform speed below the surface of the liquor and means for squeezing the cloth after being passed through the liquor across the Whole Width, and a partition in the heck extending to near the bottom of the same for the admittance of fresh liquor, substantially as described.

7 In a cloth dyeing, bleaching or like machine or beck, a plurality of guiding rollers arranged in the lower part of the beck and rotatable in the dye or other liquor,

means for traversing the cloth over the roll- 20 width, and a partition in the beck extending 25 to near the bottom of the same for the admittance of fresh liquor, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two Witnesses.

' REUBEN JACKSON. Witnesses:

FRED J. MEREDITH, HY. JUNCA.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

